[Effect of electroacupuncture on rehabilitation of knee joint movement after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction]

Abstract

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the rehabilitation of knee joint function after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods: A total of 140 patients with ACL reconstruction were randomly divided into an observation group (58 cases recruited, 12 cases dropped out) and a control group (65 cases recruited, 5 cases dropped out). The patients in the control group were treated with routine rehabilitation treatment. The patients in the observation group, on the basis of the treatment in the control group, were treated with EA at Fengshi (GB 31), Futu (ST 32), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Fenglong (ST 40), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Diji (SP 8) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on the affected side (2 Hz/100 Hz of dilatational wave, 2-5 mA). Each EA treatment lasted 20-30 min, twice a day for 7 days. The swelling degree (d), pain visual analogue scale (VAS), knee joint range of motion (ROM), scores of International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective short form and scores of Lysholm were observed in the two groups 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after operation.

Results: One month and 3 months after operation, the swelling degree (d) and VAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05); 6 months and 1 year after operation, there was no significant difference between the two groups on the swelling degree (d) and VAS scores (P>0.05). One month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after operation, the ROM of the knee joint in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), the IKDC score and Lysholm score were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Within one year, there were no relaxations, fractures and other related complications in the two groups. The pivot shift test, anterior drawer test and the Lachman test were all negative.

Conclusion: EA combined with routine rehabilitation training could obviously reduce the pain of knee joint, improve the swelling degree, increase the ROM of knee joint, promote the functional recovery in patients with ACL reconstruction, which are superior to rehabilitation training alone.

Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction; electroacupuncture (EA); functional rehabilitation; knee joint range of motion (ROM); visual analogue scale score (VAS).